Poconos has a plethora of animal prognosticators

Yet the Poconos has its own long but little-known tradition of prognosticators too. It's where science meets ritualistic animal behavior and nature predicts the future with mystical accuracy.

In case you've missed these wildlife whisperers, here they are:

Bog Turtle Day: If Hamilton Harry emerges from the wet marshes of Cherry Valley, all building permits are suspended. If he's a no-show, he stays on the endangered species list.

Black Bear Day: If Blakeslee Bob comes out of hibernation early, the price of bird seed rises and so do the number of overturned garbage cans.

Skunk Day: The first Tuesday of November. If Sammie the Skunk expels his fragrance, a newly elected official will ignore campaign promises and another will vote to issue himself a permit to build a strip club.

Squirrel Day: If Reeders Rocky is spotted frantically gathering nuts in the pre-dawn hours, then Black Friday crowds at The Crossings Premium Outlets will be immense.

Frog Day: If the annual migration of frogs across River Road lasts more than four weeks, PennDOT will begin several road projects causing massive traffic backups.

Woolly Caterpillar Day: If Coolbaugh Calloway is seen sporting extra thick stripes, it means The Beatles will play a reunion at "The Mount."

Silver-Haired Bat Day: Observed on Oct. 31. If Smithfield Sally gets into your bedroom and flies laps as you sleep, it will be at least another five years before we get a Wegmans.

Deer Day: Observed the Monday after Thanksgiving. If Tobyhanna Tucker is seen sporting a huge rack, look for a crowd of pick-up trucks pulled over to the side of the road and for little-used cabins to come to life.

Beaver Day: If Bartonsville Barney toils to build a dam in McMichael Creek, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will fund a 10-year study.

And then there's April 1.

Sasquatch Day: It's when we try to spot the elusive mountain lion. Never documented except in grainy photos, legend has it the big cat prowls the Pocono Mountains.

According to myth, if it's seen on that day, it can only mean one thing — the commuter train to New York City is coming.